Container



Jan. 18, 1944. Q KUHN 2,339,554

' CONTAINER Filed Dec. 2, 1941 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIII/Q&\Q l2 u yam INVENTOR 5 an Kuhn ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1944. M. o. KUHN 2,339,554

CONTAINER I Fil ed Dec. 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 al J w:

54 I L (53 k I 2| I 42 '42 /fl 55 42 i 44 gmwm max 0.1mm

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y 1 I 2,339,554

oonramsa f Max 0. Kuhn, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron,0,hio, a corporation of Ohio Application- December 2, 1941, Serial No. 421,307

. '1 Claims. (Cl. 220-33) This invention relates containeraespecially to lightweight containers adapted to hold gases and other fluids under pressure and not explode or be completely demolished when a bullet pierces the container. I

In containers of the class identified above, it

n is very diiiicult to combine lightweight with desirable characteristics for protecting the container against explosion when struck by a bullet even though the bullets force is increased by escaping gases. Attempts have been made to reinforce the containers, so that they resist tearingor exploding when a bullet passes therethrough, but such which are coupled'with cylindrical, ortubular attempts have either been failures or else have 1 resulted in containers that weigh too muchito' be suitable for use, such as for an oxygen tank in an airplane. I

The general object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, well reinforced container, which is adapted to retain a gas or fluid under high pressure and not be exploded or completely demolished when a bullet pierces the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which is easily manufactured from standard materials, which container is especially resistant to a tearing action.

The foregoing and other objects will be maniin Figure 4. ln'some cases, it may be desirable fast as the specification proceeds, which speciflcation is described with particular referenceto the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a container embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an'end elevation ofthe container of Figure 1; F I a Figures 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections'of joints illustrating the manner in which the inmay be substituted therefor.

I sections I I and I! each have a spherical end pormembers. The container sections and I2 preferably are made from thin sheets of stainless I steel, although in other instances other metals Figures 3,4 and 5 illustrate typical ioint'con-i structions by which the-container sections l l and I2 may be secured-together. For example, Figure 3 showsa construction wherein the ends of the container sections are bent inwardly to form inwardly extendingflanges I3, which flanges are abutted and then welded together by metal deposited in the groove formed in the container surface by the inwardly tumed flanges 13. Or,

' the container sections may be secured together by an ordinary atomic welded butt Joint, as shown to secure the container sections II and I2 together by a lap joint, as shown in Figure 5 In this case, a reduced diameter section It is formed 7 on the. container section II, and this reduced diameter section is telescoped into engagement with the other container section I l, as showmand thereafter welded in place.

In order to reinforce the container sections ll and I 2 without greatly adding to the weight there-' of, straps I! are secured to the outer surfaces of the container sections I I and I2. The straps I! are fiat in section and are formed into a plurality of relatively widely spaced helical convolutions dividual sections forming the container of Figure 1 may be secured together; a I

Figure 6 is "an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 8-0 of Figure l, and shows the manner in which'a reinforcing strap is secured to a container section;-

which extend substantially the entire cylindrical length of the container sections to arrest longitudinal tears in the container-sections. Each strap Figures '1 ands are fragmentary elevations of modified containers of the invention;

Figures 9 and 10 are sections on lines 1- of Figure 7 and- Iii-Ill of Figure 8, respectively; Figure 11 is va fragmentary section of a container of the invention showing its action when subjected to a tearing force;

Figure 12 is a' fragmentary plan modification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawof. a further ings, a container III .is shown therein,- which con-,-

tainer is shown as' comprising two cup shaped container sections H and I2. These container it starts adjacent the spherical end of the, con- ,tainer section and extends to a point immediately adjacent the'welded end of the section. The container sections are further reinforced, and lateral tearing of the container sections is prevented, by

longitudinally extending straps II that are secured to. the outer surfaces of the containersec- 'tions and extend over the straps II. The straps" It may extend either one half the length of the a Y container or the full length thereof, as desired;

but usually terminate short of the joint between v the container sections. as shown.

A distinct feature of the invention is that both the straps II and I! are secured to the container sections II' and II by either a continuous weld,

or a weld that is substantially continuous, that extends onlyalong the axis of the straps. That is, the straps are secured to the container sectionsonly intermediate the edges, or lateral margins of the straps, as most clearly shown at I! in Figure 6. The welding conditions as to welding temperature and length of time'that one welded zone is heated are so adjusted that only the portions ofythe container isections ll andilv ilar to the ribs 34, formed thereon. The container is even further reinforced by forming out- I wardly directed flanges 45 on the edges of the straps 43, as shown in Figure 10. Obviously, if desired, any of the features of the straps II, or 43 may be used in forming the straps [5, ll, 32 or 42.

' .and ll are generallysimilartqthecontainer I II.

and strapsimmediately adjacent the weld areannealed. This, it is believed, is an important feature of the invention especially when the container sections are of such nature that they are increased in tensile strength by cold drawing them to shape, which is the usual way offorming the sections, especially if theyaremade'from;

Then the sections are weaker I immediately adjacent the weld than they are stainless steel.

in any other portionsthereof. If the container tions "from the grain of the container section.

wall at'theweld, materially increasesthe resist ance of the weldedioint'to 'thetearingaction, it

whereby such tearing action is stopped at -the' welded joint; 0r, "the-container section; usually being weaker immediately adjacent the'weid than ately adjacent the weld outwardly-and this ,aids in stopping such tearing actions (see Figure 11) The circumferential seam between the c'ontainat any other'point, will tearatthat-point; 'Su'ch' 4 a tearinthe container-section must-bend the' marginal portion Ila of the'strap II' immediv '35-' I not to be construed as limiting the invention er sections H and I: may be reinforcedagainst' circumferential tearing, "when necessary, by; means of longitudinally extending straps II that extend over the adjacent portions'of thecontainer'sections. Thesestraps l5 haveslottedcenter portions It, so that-welding materialmay be deposited therein to s'ecure-the reinforcingstraps i5 inpcsition'i' *Hence f' asubstantially similar construction resuitrbyg use 0f" the straps l8 asis ob't'ain'ed by' weldinsthe stla'ps i5andl6 The containe'l is completed by flttings li butt welded to the ends of the sections II and IL. :z,

Figures 'T and' s show elevationsot modified" embodiments of the invention;v wherein 1 special types of reinforcing'straps are provided. A container 3|," which hasa helical-'reinforcingxstrap 32 therearound, is provided with'longitudinally extendinmreinforcing straps atfspaced-"lpor-w tions thereof. The straps QLsimilar' to the straps i i, extend-over the helicalr strapvlso that they I do not'coritact'the containerJI- for-their entirew length, The portiori of ithe: straps 3:; bearing on the container initially have an inwardly projectin'g rib 5 34 formed: thereon toirfacilitate' f'weld-n's' ing thef strap to the contai'ner by rojection I welding: This I substantiallygsinsures" getting a r 1 good weld in all instances whereby uniformi'con tainers can be produced; The-rib is :not; cont same; being made integral with the welding operation; i

A container 4|, asshownin Figures;haslreinthe container; by

forcing straps 42 and 'welded thereto; The 1;;

straps 42 are similar to the straps: 1 i 5 except that they form: separate circular bands around Y the container -4 I *The straps'" 43" extend longi-i what-istclaimed is:

ffigure'lzshows a container 5| which is formed from sections 52 and 53 that'are' secured together I bya welded seam 54. The container sectionshavereinforcing straps 55 and 56 similar to the str'aps l5 and I6, respectively, welded thereto a hereinbefore described. In this instance, the seam'54 and the portion of the container thereadjacent, are. ,;reeniorced against circumferential tearing by reenforcing plates 51 that are welded *to the ends' ot the straps 56 and bridge the porv tion of. the container therebetween.

, 7 Note that the helically'disposed convolutions of the straps 55 extend in: opposite directions. 30th the straps -55 and 55 arelsecured;to theecontainersections before the sections are. securedttogether,v as are the straps used informing the other ments of the invention.

bodiments of 'theinvention illustrated herein is thereto, The invention includes all features of patentablenovelty residin inthe foregoing descriptiOn and shown I in the accompanying-- draw- 1. A lightweight thereof 'said straps all being welded 'to said members onlyintermediate thelateralmargins of t t e stra t nd e n rci s pl tes, avi g slotted a center portions e itendingiover .thepJoi nt -between said members at circumferentially spaced points,

said; plates being iweld di to said members only adjacent; the, slotted centers thereof.

I I 2.:A lightweight, substantially cylindrical metallic containercomprising two substantially cup Y shaped members the open; endsgof which are secur d togetheriahelical tear-resistingtstrap po- 4 sitioned arounda portion: ofgthe outer, surface of each ofssaidmcup shapedmembers, and ilongitu dinallyiextending straps extending substantially the lengthmfsaid container and atleast partial-- ly over the spherical ends= thereof-,, saidstraps all being-welded totsaidmembers onlydntermediate the edges of saidstrapsn 3. A-;:substantially--- cylindrical metallic container :comprising- ;two substantially cup shaped I members each .of which has a sphericalend portion, said -members being secured together, a t Y It will be noted that the containers III,

em'bodi- I substantiallyv cylindrical al n a c mprising; t o s b ntia y "cup 'shaped,thinwalled metal, memberseach ,of

which has a spherical endpqrtigmsaid members; ha'vins,.-: th. i ::open en s :a u t d :an s ured .to-v in position' in the manner hereinb'efore described; s rtaz elical' r in rci tr n-p0s t d I s around the;outersurfac -ofzeach, of-said cup shaped members adja cent n-the abutted ;ends I thereof, longitudinally,extending straps, extend- I ing substantially ;;the length 2' of isaid container I and at least; partially over' the-spherical ends,

helical reinforcing strap positioned around at least a portion of the outer surface of each of said cup shaped members, said straps being welded to said members only intermediate the edges of said straps, and reinforcing plates having slotted center portions extending over the joint between said members at circumferentially spaced points, said plates being welded to said members only adjacent the slotted centers thereof.

4. A lightweight container that is resistant to tearing, said container including a thin wall metal cylinder, a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferentially extending convolutions of a reinforcing strap extending around said cylinder, and a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced reinforcing straps secured to said container, said spacing between said straps being at least four times the width of the straps, said straps being welded to said container adjacent the central portion of one of their faces.

5. A lightweight tubular metallic container having closed end portions of substantially spherical shape, a ribbon-like reeni'orcing element helically applied to said container with spaced convolution and extending intermediate the spherical ends thereof, said element being welded to the containerwalls along a line intermediate the element margins, and a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribbon-like metallic strips extending from one end portion to the other end portion, said strips being in spaced relation about the container and'welded thereto along a line intermediate the strip margins, said spacing between said convolutions being at least four times the width of said elements.

6. A light weight substantially cylindrical metal container comprising a plurality of body sections each of which has at least one open end and two of which have one open and one spher- 5 ically shaped closed end, said sections having their open ends abutted and secured together, external tear-resisting members in contact with portions of the outside surface of said container, said tear-resistant members being formed into a plurality of helical ccnvolutions which extend substantially the entire container length, said tear-resisting members being in the form of metal straps and being permanently attached directly to said container at the central portion only of the container contacting face of said straps, whereby a substantial width of the said straps will extend on each side of said attachment and in contact with but unattached to the container, the surface area of the reinforced container being substantially greater between said straps than its surface area under the straps.

7. A substantially cylindrical metallic container comprising two substantially cup-shaped members each of which has a spherical and portion, said members being secured together, a helical reinforcing strap positioned around at least a portion of the outer surface of each of said cup-shaped members, said straps being welded to said members only intermediate the so edges of said straps, and reinforcing plates extending over the Joint between said members at circumferentially spaced points. said plates being welded to said members. I 

